Emirates flights to Mauritius cancelled due to tropical storm

Mauritius closed its only airport on Sunday after a tropical cyclone warning

epa08095042 Tropical storm Calvinia rushes over Pointe d'Esny, at the south-eastern coast of Mauritius, 30 December 2019. The severe tropical storm warning class three caused the closure of the airport and power outages.  EPA/MARTIN REICH BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
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Emirates has cancelled all flights to and from Mauritius after the Indian Ocean nation closed its only airport.

Flights EK8701 and EK8702 to and from the International airport in Mauritius (MRU) have been cancelled after tropical storm Calvinia triggered a class three cyclone warning.

All flights in and out of the airport in Port Louis were cancelled on Monday and flights for today, Tuesday, December 31, have not been confirmed.

According to Emirates, customers due to fly with the airline will be rebooked to their final destination and will receive updated itineraries shortly.

Tropical cyclone Calvinia formed on Sunday, December 29 and its clouds blanketed Mauritius. The centre of the storm was just east of the island on Monday, December 30, when the decision was made to close the airport.

National airline Air Mauritius said that "all arrivals and departures have been postponed until further notice." The airline flies to Dubai via several locations in India.

Nasa's Terra satellite provided a visible image of Tropical Storm Calvinia covering the island of Mauritius in the Southern Indian Ocean on Monday, December 30. Courtesy Nasa Worldview
Nasa's Terra satellite provided a visible image of Tropical Storm Calvinia covering the island of Mauritius in the Southern Indian Ocean on Monday, December 30. Courtesy Nasa Worldview

Tropical cyclones are the most powerful weather event on Earth. Images captured by Nasa on Monday, December 30 show Calvinia and its thick bands of thunderstorms brewing over Mauritius.

It's currently peak season in Mauritius as travellers head to the island for winter sunshine and New Year celebrations.

December is also the best month for snorkelling and diving. The tropical cyclone season in Mauritius normally runs from November to May but the strongest storms typically take place in January and February.